Several governments have issued travel warnings for countries in which the presence of the Zika virus has been confirmed. Barbados is among these countries.

Local hotels, along with health officials, continue to take steps to control the spread of this virus, putting in place preventive and control measures including staff training. The focus is on reducing the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary mosquito species responsible for transmitting the Zika virus.

Pregnant women, and those planning to become pregnant, should continue to be particularly careful because of the possible link between the Zika virus and microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.